Pune city has another wet week in store before the monsoon finally withdraws completely from Maharashtra towards the end of this week. Weather experts have hinted at continuation of thunderstorm and lightning over parts of the city until Wednesday. “The current rains are associated with the cyclonic circulation prevailing over south Madhya Maharashtra adjoining Karnataka. There would be lightning associated with thunderstorm experienced over Pune,” said a senior Met official from India Meteorology Department (IMD), Pune.

This year, the monsoon began withdrawing from parts of Rajasthan only on September 27, delayed by nearly a month. This late withdrawal has also reflected in its further course over the rest regions, including Maharashtra, which ideally reports monsoon retreat around October 1. “This monsoon has been different than usually observed, with systems formed much behind its usual schedule, overall delaying the season’s end,” suggested the official.

According to the forecasts issued, heavy rains are on the cards over Madhya Maharashtra and Konkan till October 12. Marathwada and Vidarbha would be receiving rains till Wednesday. “Though there is a drop in the pressure gradient over central India regions observed, the withdrawal is still at least a couple of days away,” weather experts suggested.